Uugh. bacteria bloom.

[melanini]

hey all, I'm new here, and already need your help.:help:
I set up a new 20 gallon tank and didnt let it run a cycle. Stupid, I know. It now has a bacteria bloom and my poor oscar is at the top gasping for oxygen. I live in a very small town so my options as to what products i can get for treating my tank are very limited. If Wal-mart doesnt carry it, then I'm out of luck. any suggestions? Thanks!

[Lady Hobbs]

Gasping at the surface means your oscar is starved for oxygen. Right now before doing anything else or sitting at your computer, do a water change ASAP. Get yourself a Master Test Kit so you can monitor the water levels daily until you have a cycle. If not, you will loose your oscar and may anyway.

Ask the store if you can return him until you have a cycled tank or possibly a friend can board him in their tank?

[melanini]

I actually just transfered him to my already established tank, and was getting ready to start bucketing water...yuck. He will just have to live without as much room for the time being....Thanks!

[melanini]

Oh Yea, I forgot to ask, should I do a compleate change?

[Lady Hobbs]

As long as he is now safe (whew) do a fishless cycle. You have feeder gravel to add to your new tank and used filter media so you can get a pretty fast cycle going by "seeding".

If you are using a different type of gravel and don't want it mixed, fill up a nylon panty hose (well NOT THE WHOLE THINK) HAHA and just lay it in the new tank. Add some stress zyme (Walmarts) or if you are lucky enough to have a LFS, BioSpira. That's keep refrigeratored and is about $20 but the Stress Zyme is much cheaper and altho not as great, is still effective.

Seed that tank with as much used stuff as you can from your existing tank. You can put it back when you're finished. I would also add pure ammonia if you have it around the house. It's at most Dollar Stores but get the pure ammonia with no additives like lemon or anything like that.

I bet you can get a cycle in about 5 days.

Leave the new tank alone and do nothing. Messing with it will keep your cycle from starting and will cause NTS.

20 gallons is not enough room for an Oscar, BTW. They should have a 55 gallon.

[melanini]

As long as he is now safe (whew) do a fishless cycle. You have feeder gravel to add to your new tank and used filter media so you can get a pretty fast cycle going by "seeding".

If you are using a different type of gravel and don't want it mixed, fill up a nylon panty hose (well NOT THE WHOLE THINK) HAHA and just lay it in the new tank. Add some stress zyme (Walmarts) or if you are lucky enough to have a LFS, BioSpira. That's keep refrigeratored and is about $20 but the Stress Zyme is much cheaper and altho not as great, is still effective.

Seed that tank with as much used stuff as you can from your existing tank. You can put it back when you're finished. I would also add pure ammonia if you have it around the house. It's at most Dollar Stores but get the pure ammonia with no additives like lemon or anything like that.

I bet you can get a cycle in about 5 days.

Leave the new tank alone and do nothing. Messing with it will keep your cycle from starting and will cause NTS.

20 gallons is not enough room for an Oscar, BTW. They should have a 55 gallon.


I do have a new bottle of stess zyme, and added when I set the tank up......
Dont worry, This is just his starter tank! He is only about 2" long right now, and my 55 is in storage till he gets a little bigger. were planning a possiable move soon, and I figured this tank would be suitable for his current size and easier to move with. :) Thank you so much for your suggestions and help1 Your a life saver..literally!LOL

[Lady Hobbs]

I could not stand having a 55 in storage! I'd have it right in the middle of my living room if I had to. haha

[melanini]

It's hard! but if you saw how cluttered my livingroom is already,(furniture, plus two tanks already) you would understand!LOL ....Hmmmmm Maybe my bedroom....LOL

[jweintraub]

Sounds like a case of MTS to me!? Love to see some pics of your set-ups if possible?

[melanini]

hope I dont sound too stupid, but what is MTS? Ive heard of NTS, was "MTS" a typo?

[melanini]

I had some problems with my filter and was missing the impellar for the large filter I have on the tank. I was using one in it from a mini filter but it wasnt able to move the water appropriatly. I just found the impellar that actually goes to the filter unit and the water is immediatly starting to clear up...man am I feeling stupid right now!LOL (please dont laugh...we cant all be geniuses!:14: )
I also had to move Zoidberg(the oscar) back to the 20 gallon as he was trying to rip the tummy out of the one fish that was in the other tank, even though the other fish was more than twice his size. Frisky little bugger! Hopefully he is able to handle the stress he has now been through thanks to my own stupidity. I'll get some pics and post them asap.

[melanini]

[see.pics thread...

[gm72]

Maybe add a bubble stone to the tank to increase aeration. Don't forget mail order for supplies. I use aquariumguys.com for a lot of my equipment. They have good prices on the Aquaclear filters I use. NOT affiliated with them other than being a happy customer. I also use trilbytropicals.com for my Eheim parts. Again, just a customer, no more. Glad Zoidberg is doing better. I panic when my critters feel bad/aren't doing well.

[melanini]

I'm gonna have to either go w/ mail order, or drive an hour to the nearest town. you would think that since i work at a vet clinic, I would have access to all kinds of neat things, and i do, just no fishy neat things. :(

[gm72]

Yeah, I'm in the same position. I mean, I have a LFS but they charge literally 3x the price for equipment I can easily get online. Oh well, at least they have good fish!

[fishbiz]

hey... what is bacteria bloom?

[melanini]

I'll let the experts answer this one for ya. :)